Multi-purpose single initiated tandem warhead

ABSTRACT

A multi-purpose tandem warhead needing only a single initiation has a casing that forms front, middle and rear portions. A shaped charge is positioned in the rear portion of the casing and a fragmentation charge is positioned in the front portion of the casing. The middle portion between the front and rear portions is an open area that serves as a jet formation region. An impact switch is positioned at the front of the warhead. Upon impact with a target the impact switch sends a detonation signal to a detonator positioned at the rear end of the warhead causing the shaped charge to initiate. Upon the detonation of the rear shaped charge, a high-speed shaped-charge jet forms into the hollow jet formation region, penetrates into and initiates the forward fragmentation charge, and continues through the fragmentation charge. The residual shaped charge jet provides lethality against light armored targets while the fragmentation from the forward charge provides lethality against personnel and other soft targets.

DEDICATORY CLAUSE

The invention described herein may be manufactured, used and licensed byor for the U.S. Government for governmental purposes without payment ofany royalties thereon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

I. Field of the Invention

The present invention pertains to tandem warheads. More particularly thepresent invention pertains to a tandem warhead that requires only asingle initiation mechanism.

II. Discussion of the Background

Tandem warheads refer to warheads having two explosive charges.Typically, each charge is utilized for a specific lethal effect.Conventional tandem warheads have two initiation mechanisms. Typicallythe forward charge is initiated first with a second warhead beinginitiated after a prescribed time delay. In anti-armor warhead systems,the shaped charge is the most common kill mechanism. However, typicalshaped-charge warheads do not have adequate fragmentationcharacteristics to be effective against personnel and other softtargets.

The need for two initiating mechanisms or fuzes in the conventionaltandem warhead augments the cost and complexity of such devices andincreases the likelihood of initiation failure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention utilizes a single initiation mechanism to activatethe two respective explosive charges in the tandem warhead. This singleinitiation mechanism increases reliability while reducing the complexityand cost of the warhead.

In addition, the present invention utilizes a shaped-charge in the rearof the warhead sub-system as both an armor piercing kill mechanism andan initiation device for the forward fragmentation charge. Further, anexplosive charge positioned at the front of the warhead sub-system actsas a fragmentation charge thereby providing desirable fragmentationeffects for the warhead sub-system.

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a tandemwarhead that requires only one initiation mechanism.

Another object of the present invention is to provide for a tandemwarhead that combines armor piercing capability with lethalfragmentation capabilities.

These and other objects of the present invention are realized by atandem warhead sub-system having a casing that has a forward portion, amiddle portion and a rear portion. A frontal explosive fragmentationcharge is positioned within the forward portion of the casing and ashaped charge is positioned within the rear portion of the casing.

A shaped charge jet formation region is located between the shapedcharge and the frontal explosive fragmentation charge. The jet formationregion is an open region within the middle portion of the casing. Adetonating means or mechanism is positioned behind the shaped charge toinitiate the shaped charge. A signal generating means or targetdetection device is provided for sending a detonation signal to thedetonating means upon impact with a target.

Upon the detonating means receiving the detonation signal, detonation ofthe shaped charge occurs resulting in the collapse of the metallicshaped charge liner and formation of a high speed metallic jet in thejet formation region so as to penetrate and cause the initiation of thefrontal explosive charge. The frontal explosive charge is afragmentation charge. Fragmentation material in the forward portion ofthe metallic fragmenting casing is sprayed as a result of thefragmentation charge, i.e., the frontal explosive charge, beinginitiated.

At the detonation of the frontal explosive charge, the shaped charge jetgenerated by the shaped charge has so penetrated and initiated thefrontal explosive charge that a residual portion of the jet continuesforward in front of the frontal explosive charge thus providingarmor-piercing capability to the warhead.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendantadvantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes betterunderstood by reference to the following detailed description whenconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a see-through side view of the tandem warhead of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing showing that the trigger switch iselectrically wired to detonator 52;

FIG. 3 is a screen shot from a CTH hydrocode analysis illustrating therespective positions of the frontal explosive fragmentation charge andthe shaped charge prior to initiation;

FIG. 4 is a screen shot from a CTH hydrocode analysis illustrating therespective positions of the frontal explosive charge and the shapedcharge immediately after initiation;

FIG. 5 is a screen shot from a CTH hydrocode analysis illustrating therespective positions of the frontal explosive fragmentation charge andthe shaped charge immediately after the time frame shown in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is screen shot from a CTH hydrocode analysis illustrating therespective positions of the frontal explosive charge and the shapedcharge immediately after the time frame shown in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTON

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designateidentical or corresponding parts, and more particularly to FIG. 1, thesingle initiated warhead 10 of the present invention is provided with acasing 12 having a forward portion 14, a middle portion 18, and a rearportion 20. The forward portion 14 of casing 12 includes a metallicfragmentation case 16.

At the very front of the warhead 10 is the nose or front end 24 that isa part of the forward portion of the casing. Behind the rear portion 20of the casing 12 is a rear end region 22.

A frontal or forward explosive charge 26 is positioned within theforward portion 14 of casing 12. The frontal charge 26 is afragmentation charge. An explosive liner 28 (i.e., frontal explosiveliner) in conjunction with the forward portion 14 of casing 12 forms areceptacle that houses the frontal charge 26. The explosive liner 28 ismade of a plastic or similarly suitable material. The explosive liner 28has a platform region 32 that is orthogonal to and is intersected by thecenter horizontal axis 60 of the warhead 10. Reference numerals 36 and38 represent points on respective sloped, lateral sides of the explosiveliner 28. The explosive liner is generally cup-shaped and forms a hollowinlet 34. A booster charge 30 is positioned on the platform region 32.

Within the rear portion 20 of casing 12 is shaped charge 40. A metallicshaped-charge liner 42 in conjunction with the rear portion 20 of casing12 forms a shaped-charge housing. The shaped-charge liner 42 of theprototype of the present invention has a conical shape with a centerpoint 44 being the closest point on the liner 42 to the rear end region22. Reference numerals 46 and 48 represent points on respective, slopedlateral sides of the shaped-charge liner 42. The center point 44 ofliner 42 is intersected by the center horizontal axis 60 of the warhead10.

It is noted that other shapes of liners can be utilized within theconcept of the present invention, with these shapes includingshaped-charge liners having conical, hemispherical, trumpet, or tulipshapes.

The middle portion 18 of casing 12 is a hollow region that serves as ashaped charge jet formation region 50. An impact switch or sensor 56 ispositioned at the nose or front end 24 of the casing 12. Upon impactwith a target, a signal from the impact switch 56 is generated to thefuse 54 and detonator 52 located at the rear end 22 of the warhead 10.

Thus, upon a signal from the impact switch 56 being sent to the fuse 54and detonator 52 the shaped charge 40 is initialized or detonated. Anelectrical wire or cable 64 connects the trigger switch to the fuse 54which acts as a safe and arm device (FIG. 2). Immediately after thedetonation of shaped charge 40, the explosive causes the metal liner 42of the shaped charge to converge along the central axis into a shapedcharge jet 58 into the jet formation region 50. The shaped charge jet 58is directed into the inlet region 34 of forward explosive liner 28 andpenetrates the explosive liner 28 causing detonation of the boostercharge 30 and frontal charge 26.

With reference to FIG. 3, the shaped charge 40 and frontal charge 26 areshown as positioned after the warhead has been released or fired, butprior to impact. The arrow 62 demonstrates the direction in which therespective charges are moving.

In FIG. 4, the beginning moment of initiation is depicted with theshaped-charge jet 58 beginning to form and the shaped charge 40 movingin the direction of the frontal charge 26.

In FIG. 5 the shaped charge jet 58 has penetrated the frontal charge 26and the shaped charge 40 has impacted the frontal charge 26.

In FIG. 6 a forward portion 58F of shaped charge jet 58 has totallypenetrated the frontal charge 26 and is positioned at the front thereofand the shaped charge 40 has partially combined with the frontal charge.The forward charge portion 58F that is positioned to the front offrontal charge 26 includes metallic particles from the metalshaped-charge liner 42 that have been thrust forward by a shock wave ofheat and pressure.

The present invention allows for the utilization of a single warhead inthe engagement of a diverse set of targets. Although the performance ofthe shaped charge 40 is degraded as it penetrates and initiates theforward fragmentation charge 26, CTH hydrocode analyses and preliminarytesting have demonstrated that the configuration of the presentinvention allows for sufficient penetration of lightly armored targets.

Testing has verified that the shaped charge jet 58 would reliablyinitiate the explosive of the forward fragmentation charge 26 and thatthe residual shaped charge jet 58F will penetrate light armor. Theforward fragmentation charge 26 sprays fragments in a forward directionfrom 0 to 60 degree polar zones.

Modifications are possible without deviating from the spirit of thepresent invention. Accordingly the scope of the invention is limitedonly by the claim language which follows hereafter.

1. A tandem warhead, comprising: a casing; a frontal charge providedinside said casing; a shaped charge provided inside said casing behindsaid frontal charge; a single initiating means positioned behind saidshaped charge for initiating said shaped charge and then said frontalcharge; and a triggering means for sending a signal to said singleinitiating means.
 2. A warhead, comprising: a casing, said casing havinga forward portion, a middle portion, and a rear portion; a frontalcharge, said frontal charge being positioned within said forward portionof said casing; a shaped charge, said shaped charge being positionedwithin said rear portion of said casing; a jet formation region locatedwithin said middle portion of said casing, said jet formation regionbeing located between said shaped charged and said explosive charge; asingle detonator, said single detonator being positioned to detonatesaid shaped charge; signal generating means for generating a signal fortriggering said detonating means; and wherein said single detonator isthe only detonator in said warhead.
 3. A warhead according to claim 2,wherein: said signal generating means is positioned at a front end ofsaid warhead.
 4. A warhead according to claim 3, wherein: said signalgenerating means is electrically connected to said detonating means. 5.A warhead according to claim 4, wherein: said signal generating means isan impact switch.
 6. A warhead according to claim 2, wherein saiddetonating means is positioned at a rear end of said warhead.
 7. Awarhead according to claim 6, wherein when said detonating means istriggered by said signal generating means, said shaped charge uponinitiating causes a shaped charge jet to form in the hollow jetformation region and penetrating said frontal charge causing saidfrontal charge to detonate.
 8. A warhead according to claim 7, whereinat the detonation of said explosive charge a portion of the shapedcharge jet is positioned to the front of said frontal charge.
 9. Awarhead according to claim 8, wherein said forward portion of saidcasing and an explosive liner form a receptacle that houses said frontalcharge, said explosive liner forming a hollow inlet region, a boostercharge being connected to said explosive liner.
 10. A warhead accordingto claim 9, wherein said warhead has a center longitudinal axis thatextends through said hollow inlet region.
 11. A warhead according toclaim 10, wherein said rear portion of said casing and a shaped-chargeliner form a housing for said shaped charge.
 12. A warhead according toclaim 11, wherein said shaped-charge liner has a center point thatintersects said center longitudinal axis, said center point being closerto said rear end of said warhead than other points on said shaped-chargeliner.
 13. A warhead according to claim 12, wherein said shaped-chargeliner forms a conical shape.
 14. A warhead according to claim 13,wherein said forward portion of said casing comprises fragmentationmaterial and said frontal charge is a fragmentation charge.
 15. A tandemwarhead, comprising: a front end and a rear end; a casing having aforward portion that includes said front end, said casing having amiddle portion, and said casing having a rear portion that includes saidrear end; a frontal charge; a metallic liner that forms a receptaclewith said forward portion of said casing for housing said frontalcharge; a shaped charge; a shaped-charge liner that forms ashaped-charge housing with said rear portion of said casing; a jetformation region, said jet formation region being located between saidexplosive charge and said shaped charge; an impact switch positioned atsaid front end of said warhead; and a detonator positioned at said rearend of said warhead and being electrically connected to said impactswitch.
 16. A tandem warhead according to claim 15, wherein saidexplosive liner forms a hollow inlet region, said hollow inlet regionbeing intersected by a center longitudinal axis of said warhead.
 17. Atandem warhead according to claim 15, wherein said shaped-charge linerhas a center point that intersects said center longitudinal axis, saidcenter point being closer to said rear end of said warhead than otherpoints on said shaped-charge liner.
 18. A tandem warhead according toclaim 16, wherein said shaped-charge liner forms a conical shape.
 19. Atandem warhead according to claim 15, wherein upon impact with a targetsaid impact switch sends a signal to said detonator causing said shapedcharge to explode, causing a shaped-charge jet comprised of a shock waveof heat and pressure to be jettisoned into said jet formation region andpenetrating said frontal charge, and causing said explosive charge todetonate.
 20. A tandem warhead according to claim 18, wherein at thedetonation of said explosive charge, a portion of said shaped-charge jetis positioned to the front of said explosive charge, said portion ofsaid shaped-charge jet including metal particles from said shaped-chargeliner.